Migrating to New Zealand: What You Need to Know
New Zealand is the premier choice for thousands of migrants each year. Famous the world over for its stunning scenery and laid-back lifestyle, New Zealand is a multicultural nation, with a population of around 4.75 million people. In the post Covid-19 pandemic world, this isolated island it is also one of the safest countries in the world.
Living in New Zealand:
- New Zealanders are friendly, easy-going people from a range of different background and cultures. With a landmass the size of the UK or Japan, and only a fraction of the population, New Zealand has much less pressure on space and natural resources. New Zealanders enjoy a balanced lifestyle with great career opportunities and plenty of time for recreational activities. Outdoor activities are abundant, including water sports, snow sports, extreme sports, as well as some of the most beautiful walks in the world.
- New Zealand has a lively arts and culture scene, with plenty of opportunities to take in musical events, theatre, film, and comedy. Kiwis enjoy access to some of the world's best food and wine, and famous for their good old fashioned kiwi hospitality.
- New Zealand has a burgeoning economy, which creates an environment of work opportunities and collaboration in the Kiwi spirit. They are at the forefront in many areas of information technology and in biological and medical research.
- English is the most widely used language in New Zealand - both professionally and colloquially. Kiwis use a lot of words or terms you will not be familiar with, even if you have learned English in your home country and we tend to talk very fast. A lot of these phrases are coined and used in Aotearoa only (Māori name for New Zealand).
Life is for living, and while New Zealanders work hard at their jobs, employers recognise the importance of work-life balance. Living in New Zealand is about balancing the time you spend working hard, and the time you spend enjoying the Kiwi lifestyle.
There a large amount of government resources available that can shape your expectations about migrating to New Zealand. These cover critical aspects that all individuals and families looking to come to or extend their stay in New Zealand should know - finding work, choosing the city to live in, renting a place and understanding New Zealand work culture.
Feel free to contact the Aims Global team with specific questions that you have.
Settling into New Zealand
Adjusting to a new country is challenge for most people and knowing how the settlement process works can go a long way in making a sense of your experiences. New Zealand government has a dedicated website to assist new migrants with stages of settling in, how to get involved in the New Zealand way of life and community and dealing with homesickness. It also explains the unique Kiwi customs and communications and how to gain an understanding of the Māori culture, which is very important to comfortably living in New Zealand.
Finding Work in New Zealand
If you’re thinking of coming to New Zealand to work for a few years, or maybe even to settle, you’ll need an appropriate work visa. For most work visas (other than partner work visas or post study work visas), you will need a job offer. Often people wonder if they can apply for a job in New Zealand before they can have a visa in hand. Yes, it is. It is perfectly acceptable and legal to apply for jobs before you get a visa. Employers generally understand the situation, and when you get a job, will help you with your visa application. Just remember however you won’t be able to start working, and earning, until your visa is approved.
New Zealand Job Market
New Zealand has been encouraging people from overseas to come and work here for a number of years. Our growing economy continues creating more jobs generally, plus we have on-going shortages of skills in particular areas. The majority of new jobs will be in highly skilled occupations. However, there will be opportunities for workers with skills of many sorts, particularly in the fastest growing employment sectors. Some specialist skills are especially sought after. These feature on official Skill Shortages lists which are updated regularly. If your job is on one of these skills shortages lists, it’s good news for you
